Aldrich Astronomical Society hooked on space

By the time Josh Ponce de Leon was 10, he had developed a real curiosity about....

  By the time Josh Ponce de Leon was 10, he had developed a real curiosity about the night sky. His father, Steve Ponce de Leon, took matters in hand and called the Aldrich Astronomical Society — it so happened at just the right time. The society was about to host its annual Starfest, an evening devoted to stargazing and other pursuits involving outer space. “We said, ‘Come and expose him to it, and we can teach him from there,’ ” recalled Bruce Card, an amateur astronomer and secretary of the society. The other day, Josh, who lives with his family in Charlton, talked about the excitement he felt that night as he moved from one activity to another. “It was very open, and there was lots of discussion,” he said. “It was the mystery of space, and you got to try on space suits. I really like science and technology. It was the first time I looked through a telescope.” By the holidays, Josh knew what he wanted for a gift. His father sought advice from Jim J. Zebrowski, a physicist who serves as the society’s president. “I walk in and see this gigantic box,” Josh said, his face lighting up at the recollection of Christmas morning. The two men had settled on an Orion 8-inch Dobsonian telescope, just the right size for Josh to set up by himself. Josh has gone on to become a dedicated member of the society, attending meetings at least once a month and assisting in the group’s expansive outreach programs to schools, Scout troops and libraries. Josh is a real success story, Zebrowski said. The 60-member society likes nothing better than to engage young people in the thrill of astronomy and space travel. And Zebrowski and Card are predicting that many who attend Starfest this year will follow in Josh’s footsteps and become hooked on the pastime. The annual astronomy and space exploration event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the science building at Anna Maria College in Paxton. Zebrowski’s enthusiasm bubbled over as he described the reaction most people have to viewing the stars. “The first time someone sees deep sky objects, you hear the, ‘Ohhh.’ It’s that kind of thing,” he said. “Someone will say, ‘Can I look one more time?’ I say, ‘Sure, you can look two or three more times.’ It’s the wonder of it.” This is a big year for the society: It is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The organization is named in honor of the late Fred Davis Aldrich, a mathematics instructor and dean at Worcester Academy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Aldrich, who graduated from Worcester Academy and Brown, became interested in astronomy after the Class of 1897 gave the academy a refracting telescope in 1907. Aldrich shared his interest with area residents, lecturing often on popular astronomical topics. He died in 1931. In December 1932, a group of astronomical aficionados founded the society. Today, the society has more members than ever before, Card said. It meets the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the same building at Anna Maria in which Starfest will take place. The gatherings are open to the public. For those who wish to join, annual dues are $20 per adult and $10 per child. The society has a strong commitment to space exploration. Both Card and Zebrowski are “solar system ambassadors,” so dubbed through a voluntary program of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. They are charged with spreading the word about NASA and its missions and the importance of space studies. Other members have expertise in geology and other areas of science. At meetings, members view the stars through the society’s powerful 15-inch Dobsonian reflector telescope — a “light bucket” telescope — and watch NASA and space-related videos, among other activities. “What I appreciate is you learn so much, and there’s such a wealth of knowledge,” Ponce de Leon said. “Josh loves geology. They’re all so open to Josh and talking with him.” A big part of the society’s purpose is to engage young people in the wonders of the universe and beyond. Zebrowski, Card and other members conduct from 50 to 75 programs a year. They are often in area schools. Their audience ranges from small groups of children to as many as 500 in one day. “It depends on what the school or science teachers are looking for,” Card, who lives in Worcester, said. “We can custom tailor a presentation based on what they need.” In talking to novices, they approach stargazing through storytelling, relating the folklore surrounding the constellations — Orion, Hercules, Cassiopeia and Sagittarius, to name a few. “I just say, ‘I want you to do the simple act of tilting your head upward,’ ” Zebrowski said. “It sinks in in a painless, easy-to- enjoy way.” They go on to introduce the children to a planisphere, a relatively inexpensive cardboard map that, through adjustment for month, day and time, allows a viewer to identify the constellations visible from his or her backyard. The youngsters also learn that they can see a great deal of the night sky though binoculars or simply with the naked eye. Zebrowski tells the children he likes nothing better than to sit back in his lawn chair at his home in Winchendon and gaze up at the sky. And, through NASA materials, the society’s members engage the children with the excitement of space travel. Amateur astronomy, Zebrowski said, seems to have a magnetic appeal for people of all ages. Card recalled a woman in her 80s who came to a meeting with her daughter and granddaughter. She had never seen the sky through a telescope. “She was overwhelmed by the views,” he said. “It’s the gasp,” Zebrowski added with a broad smile. “Those pinpoints in the sky are so much more.” Pamela Sacks can be reached at psacks@telegram.com